Pike County AlArchives Biographies.....Walters, John H. February 5, 1814 - December 16, 1891 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald Bridges bridgesrd@knology.net September 8, 2007, 10:57 am Author: The Troy Messenger, issue dated September 5, 1889, on page 5. "SOME OLD PEOPLE-Short sketches that will be of interest to the public.-Men and women whom we know.-Pioneers who came to Pike in the early days, and have seen the changes of many years. John H. Walters Six miles from Troy, on the Three Notch Road is one of the most hospitable homes in all southeast Alabama, occupied by a couple of whom naught, but words of praise are spoken by old and young. It is the home of Mr. John H. Walters and wife, who were among the first settlers in Pike County. Both came from North Carolina, a state that gave to Alabama many of its early settlers. Mr. Walters was born in Robeson County, NC in 1814. Came to Alabama with his father in 1832, settling in Montgomery County. Four years later, in 1836, he came to Pike County and settled one mile from Troy. Mrs. Walters was born in Columbus County, North Carolina, in 1822, and when she was two years old her father, John Stephens, came to this state and settled in Henry County, from there he came to Pike in 1834. On the 8th of April, 1836, John H. Walters and Miss S. J. Stephens were married, by John Blair, J. P. Sixteen children have been born to them, of this number they have raised four sons and seven daughters. One of the sons volunteered in the Confederate Army and died in the service; all the others are living and have families of their own. Thirty-four grand children and eleven great grand childrenare the descendents of this old couple. In 1838, Mr. Walters entered the land upon which he now lives, built a house which constitutes a part of the present residence, and moved to it. The flooring for his house he hauled from Talbot's Mill, which was situated just above, on the same creek, where Youngblood's Mill now is. There was no bridge and he had to float the lumber across the river. Those who composed the neighborhood at that time were Brad Wilson, William and Enoch Carter, John Stephens, Thomas Sharpless, Dr. Shaw, John and Thomas White, Solomon Siler, John Stagner, John Shultz, Lewis Carnley, Martin York, Mr. Golden, Samuel Rhodes, John Campbell, Holley Goff, Thomas King, Silas Lee, James, David and Jack Coskrey, Eli Emerson, John and Israel Cartwright, Luke R, Simmons, John and Isaac Griffin, Richard and George Powell, Britton Jones, Edward L. Gibson, John Bryant, Joseph Jones, Philip Faulk, Mathias Snider, Frederick Shultz, and Col. Smiley. He first came to this county on an exploring trip in 1835, and swam Conecu River, there being no bridge or ferries, on the first Monday in August of that year. He helped to build Lord's Bridge, the second one across that stream, in the county, after he settled there. It was situated nearly directly north of where Troy now is, between Faulk's and Orion bridges, and some of the old timbers were there , only a short time since, and perhaps are standing yet. He aided in putting in the timbers of Hinson's mill when it was first built, and gets all his corn ground there until now.His first cotton he had ginned at Siler's gin, the only one in reach, and hauled it toMontgomery to market, sold it for 6 1/2 cents, a good price at the time, and bought his supplies, but purchased no corn or meat. This was in the fall of 1840. Mr. Walters was a soldier in the Indian war, serving for a time in place of his brother. The first session of Conecuh River Association, held with Beaulah church, was in 1835 and he was present, though not a member at the time. In 1844 he joined the church, and Mrs. Walters the following year, and their membership has always been at Beulah. Since that time they have contributed liberally, as the Lord has prospered them, to every house of worship erected by that church, except the first. Besides this, Mr. Walters has ever had an open hand and heart for every enterprise looking to the erection of churches and school houses, and he has aided in building all in his neighborhood, regardless of sect or creed. Mr. Walters has always been a self-sustaining farmer, having never given a mortgage nor but one waive note. He has always been a straight Democrat, and was elected on that ticket a county commissioner, in which office he served one term, to the satisfaction of the people. Their sons and daughters are scattered; one son and a daughter in Arkansas, three daughters in Texas, two sons and two daughters in this county, and one daughter in Covington County. A widowed daughter resides with them at the old homestead, and although the ravages of old age are telling upon them, and they are not as active as in the days of long ago, yet they manage to get through with the duties of the farm and household. In their old age no two people in this entire section have the esteem of their friends and neighbors in a higher degree than Uncle Johnnie Walters and his good wife." Reported in The Troy Messenger, issue dated September 5, 1889, on page 5. Pike County, Alabama Additional Comments: John H. Walters (b. 5 Feb 1814 in Robeson Co. NC & d. 16 Dec 1891 in Pike Co., AL) married Sarah Jane Stephens (b. 14 Aug 1822 in Columbus Co., NC & d. 6 Jan 1894 in Pike Co., AL) on 8 Apr 1836 in Pike Co., AL. Both are buried in Beulah Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Troy, Pike Co., AL. All birth and death dates are taken from their headstone. Sarah Jane Stephens' father was John Stephens who said to have been half Cherokee. Sarah's mother was Jane Tillman who is said to have been a red haired Scot-Irish. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/pike/bios/walters760gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb